http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705321527/Mid-ams-allow-part-time-golfers-to-compete.htmlGolfers, just like everyone, go through stages in life.
There's the life of the rising teen star, which later evolves into the life of a college player and eventually into the life of an aspiring professional. For these people, golf is their life. They eat, drink and sleep golf. If they're not competing, they're practicing and trying to get better. Golf is basically their job. The driving range is their second home.
"Really, that's the only thing you do and care about," said former Utah Valley University golfer Darrin Overson. "In summer it's all you do. You hit balls all day, practice all day, play all day and then find tournaments to play in on the weekends."
However, for others — like Overson, now a husband, father and full-time salesman — they've passed that stage and moved on to the stage of true amateur. Golf is now a hobby, a pastime. Even though they still like to compete at the highest level, golf is no longer their top priority. Families, jobs, bills and a long list of responsibilities have replaced the free hours for practice and extensive dedication to the game.
There's the life of the rising teen star, which later evolves into the life of a college player and eventually into the life of an aspiring professional. For these people, golf is their life. They eat, drink and sleep golf. If they're not competing, they're practicing and trying to get better. Golf is basically their job. The driving range is their second home.
"Really, that's the only thing you do and care about," said former Utah Valley University golfer Darrin Overson. "In summer it's all you do. You hit balls all day, practice all day, play all day and then find tournaments to play in on the weekends."
However, for others — like Overson, now a husband, father and full-time salesman — they've passed that stage and moved on to the stage of true amateur. Golf is now a hobby, a pastime. Even though they still like to compete at the highest level, golf is no longer their top priority. Families, jobs, bills and a long list of responsibilities have replaced the free hours for practice and extensive dedication to the game.
"There's just a lot of other things that you have to think about besides yourself," said 2008 Utah State Amateur champion Dan Horner, married and a salesman of building materials. "You have other things on your mind all the time other than golf. So mentally, it's tough."
With yard work to do, cars to fix, mortgages to pay, kids to clothe and mouths to feed, the working-stiff golfers naturally have a disadvantage over the teen or college stars. Statistics prove that those who practice the most are more likely to shoot the lower scores.
"I'm just not as consumed with practice like I used to be," Horner admits.
Almost every winner of the Utah men's and women's amateur championships the past two decades have been college players. The United States Golf Association says more than 60 percent of those who advance in the U.S. Amateur are college players.
Recognizing this trend, the USGA in 1981 created a new national competition for golfers age 25 and older — the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The Utah Golf Association followed suit a short time later and began holding the Utah Mid-Amateur Championship. Now, the tournament even includes a masters division for players age 40 and older — won the past two years by Orem accountant Steve Borget, also a former Utah State Amateur champion.
To remain competitive as a mid-amateur requires great time management skills and a balancing act between job, family and golf. Normally, practice comes early in the morning, during lunch, or after work. Actual playing is usually a nine-hole evening thing, or in weekend tournaments.
With yard work to do, cars to fix, mortgages to pay, kids to clothe and mouths to feed, the working-stiff golfers naturally have a disadvantage over the teen or college stars. Statistics prove that those who practice the most are more likely to shoot the lower scores.
"I'm just not as consumed with practice like I used to be," Horner admits.
Almost every winner of the Utah men's and women's amateur championships the past two decades have been college players. The United States Golf Association says more than 60 percent of those who advance in the U.S. Amateur are college players.
Recognizing this trend, the USGA in 1981 created a new national competition for golfers age 25 and older — the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The Utah Golf Association followed suit a short time later and began holding the Utah Mid-Amateur Championship. Now, the tournament even includes a masters division for players age 40 and older — won the past two years by Orem accountant Steve Borget, also a former Utah State Amateur champion.
To remain competitive as a mid-amateur requires great time management skills and a balancing act between job, family and golf. Normally, practice comes early in the morning, during lunch, or after work. Actual playing is usually a nine-hole evening thing, or in weekend tournaments.
"It's really a challenge for us to stay focused and stay competitive, but we find time and we make time to stay on top of our game," Overson said.
Former BYU and Weber State golfer Clay Bingham, who won last year's Utah Mid-Amateur at TalonsCove, used to be one of those every-day/every-hour golfers. Now, as a school teacher, father and husband, "I'm lucky if I can get out twice a week."
In fact, Bingham hasn't touched a golf club in the past two weeks but will still defend his title on Aug. 13-14 at Thanksgiving Point. Carl Jensen, who won the Mid-Am three years ago when it was held at Thanksgiving Point, has been busy this summer working on an advanced degree in accounting and it's unclear whether he'll even be in this year's field.
"It's a great tournament because you're always going to have to play good golf to win, because there's still a lot of players in this same boat, with jobs and families, who are really good golfers," Bingham said.
Most mid-amateurs share Bingham's new perspective on the game.
"I try not to have such high expectations and just go out and try to have fun. Sometimes that works out even better," he said. "But I still feel like I can win if I get things going right. We all feel like that's still in us somewhere."
Former BYU and Weber State golfer Clay Bingham, who won last year's Utah Mid-Amateur at TalonsCove, used to be one of those every-day/every-hour golfers. Now, as a school teacher, father and husband, "I'm lucky if I can get out twice a week."
In fact, Bingham hasn't touched a golf club in the past two weeks but will still defend his title on Aug. 13-14 at Thanksgiving Point. Carl Jensen, who won the Mid-Am three years ago when it was held at Thanksgiving Point, has been busy this summer working on an advanced degree in accounting and it's unclear whether he'll even be in this year's field.
"It's a great tournament because you're always going to have to play good golf to win, because there's still a lot of players in this same boat, with jobs and families, who are really good golfers," Bingham said.
Most mid-amateurs share Bingham's new perspective on the game.
"I try not to have such high expectations and just go out and try to have fun. Sometimes that works out even better," he said. "But I still feel like I can win if I get things going right. We all feel like that's still in us somewhere."
Although they might not have the benefit of more practice, the mid-amateurs usually do have more experience.
And regardless of any disadvantage in practice time, the mid-amateurs still cherish the challenge of competing against the best every weekend.
"I love playing against those whippersnappers and seeing if I can handle what they've got," Overson said.
And they love it even more when one of the veterans comes out on top, as Horner did after 144 holes in last summer's Utah State Men's Amateur at Soldier Hollow.
"Maybe that gives a little hope to the other guys that they can do it too," Horner said.
Mid-Ams
Some of Utah's top mid-amateur golfers
Steve Borget
Dan Horner
Clay Bingham
Darrin Overson
Jeff Jolley
Kurt Jamison
Ryan Job
John Owen
Lance Richards
Kirk Siddens
Tommy Sharp
Tadd Cox
Greg Stimpson
Herb Lyons
Carl Jensen
Brandon Hargett
Jason Hargett
2009 Utah Mid-Amateur and Masters Championship
54-holes medal play
Aug. 13-14 Thanksgiving Point Golf Club
And regardless of any disadvantage in practice time, the mid-amateurs still cherish the challenge of competing against the best every weekend.
"I love playing against those whippersnappers and seeing if I can handle what they've got," Overson said.
And they love it even more when one of the veterans comes out on top, as Horner did after 144 holes in last summer's Utah State Men's Amateur at Soldier Hollow.
"Maybe that gives a little hope to the other guys that they can do it too," Horner said.
Mid-Ams
Some of Utah's top mid-amateur golfers
Steve Borget
Dan Horner
Clay Bingham
Darrin Overson
Jeff Jolley
Kurt Jamison
Ryan Job
John Owen
Lance Richards
Kirk Siddens
Tommy Sharp
Tadd Cox
Greg Stimpson
Herb Lyons
Carl Jensen
Brandon Hargett
Jason Hargett
2009 Utah Mid-Amateur and Masters Championship
54-holes medal play
Aug. 13-14 Thanksgiving Point Golf Club
Comments
He better remember us little people when he makes it big!:) I can tell people that he was our hometeacher!